Emergencies
AFH Ch 18 • Procedures, Scenarios, Decision-Making
Decision Scenarios
AFH Ch 18Scenario 1 of 80
Deteriorating Weather on Cross-Country
Weather
You're 30 miles into a 100-mile XC at 3,500 MSL. Clouds are lower ahead, visibility decreasing. Destination: 2,500 OVC, 4 SM.
Factors to Consider
- Altitude: 3,500 MSL
- Cloud bases lowering
- Visibility decreasing
- Destination: 2,500 OVC, 4 SM
- Terrain rises to 2,000 MSL ahead
What Do You Do?
Key Takeaways
- Every emergency follows ABC: Aviate (fly the airplane first), Navigate (head toward a suitable landing area), Communicate (squawk 7700, declare — only after A & B).
- Energy management: trade altitude for airspeed, trade airspeed for distance. Altitude = options.
- Carbureted engines use Carb Heat; fuel-injected engines use Alternate Air. Know your best glide speed from the POH.
- Emergency procedures are aircraft-specific — always consult your POH; the generic Piper examples are for study reference only.
Piper Warrior II / Cadet (1977–1982 + Cadet, 2325 lb) Selected
Best Glide: 73ABC Priorities (Every Emergency)
A — Aviate
Fly the airplane first. Maintain control, airspeed, and altitude.
B — Navigate
Head toward an airport or suitable landing area.
C — Communicate
Squawk 7700, declare emergency, get help — only after A & B.
Energy management: trade altitude for airspeed, airspeed for distance. Altitude = options. Never sacrifice aircraft control for anything else.
No Aircraft Selected
Set your aircraft in the global selector to see aircraft-specific procedures. The procedures below are generic Piper examples for study reference only. Always consult your specific POH for accurate emergency procedures.
Aircraft-Specific Procedures
AFH Ch 18Always consult your specific POH for accurate emergency procedures
Throttle - IDLE
Brakes - APPLY
Mixture - CUTOFF
Exit runway - IF ABLE
Magnetos - OFF
Battery Master - OFF
MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL
Airspeed - BEST GLIDE (73 KIAS)
INSUFFICIENT ALT: Power Off Landing
IF TIME & ALT ALLOWS:
- Fuel Selector - CHECK SELECTED TANK
- Fuel Pump - CHECK ON
- Mixture - RICH
- Carb Heat - ON
IF POWER NOT RESTORED: Power Off Landing
If Low Alt: Airspeed - BEST GLIDE (73 KIAS)
If ALT permits:
- Fuel Selector - SWITCH TO FULLEST TANK
- Fuel Pump - ON
- Mixture - FULL RICH
- Carb Heat - ON
- Magnetos - OFF AND ON ONE AT A TIME
- Landing Area - INSPECT
IF POWER NOT RESTORED: Power Off Landing
Starter - CRANK ENGINE (continue cranking!)
Mixture - IDLE CUTOFF
Throttle - OPEN
Fuel Pump - OFF
Fuel Selector - OFF
Fuel Selector - OFF
Throttle - CLOSED
Mixture - IDLE CUTOFF
Fuel Pump - OFF
Heater/Defroster - OFF
IF FIRE PERSISTS: Airspeed - INCREASE
Prepare for Power Off Landing
Battery Master - OFF
Alternator - OFF
Vents - OPEN
Heater & Defroster - OFF
Fire - EXTINGUISH
Storm Window - OPEN IF REQ
LAND ASAP
MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL
Carb Heat - ON
IF ROUGHNESS CONTINUES AFTER 1 MIN:
- Carb Heat - OFF
- Mixture - ADJUST FOR SMOOTHNESS
- Electric Fuel Pump - ON
- Fuel Selector - SWITCH TANKS
- Mag Switch - L THEN R THEN BOTH
If satisfactory on one mag, reduced power to nearest airport
Airspeed - BEST GLIDE (73 KIAS)
Landing Area - SELECT & INSPECT
When committed:
- Flaps - AS DESIRED
- Throttle - CLOSE
- Mixture - CUTOFF
- Mags - OFF
- Masters - OFF
- Fuel Selector - OFF
Touchdown - LOWEST POSSIBLE AIRSPEED
P - Power to IDLE
A - Ailerons NEUTRAL
R - Rudder FULL OPPOSITE to spin
E - Elevator FORWARD
When rotation stops: Rudder NEUTRAL
Ease back on control wheel
DPE Tip
When a DPE says "engine failure, what do you do?" — your FIRST words should be "pitch for best glide and trim," not "fuel selector." Fly the airplane before the checklist. Students who jump straight to restart items lose points on Task IX.B (Emergency Approach and Landing) every time.
Ask Kit
Practice the script an examiner wants to hear:
“Walk me through a complete engine failure at 3,000 AGL — from pitch-for-glide through field selection, restart flow, mayday call, and passenger brief. What exact words do I say?”
Training aid only — verify all data against your POH and current FAA publications.